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Sun and the three sisters

Long ago, Sun lived on the island of Mofia, and spent his time weaving rugs, as gifts for all the people.
Sun warned them, however, to never make rugs for themselves, but to always come to him, because no one could make them better than he could. Three sisters ignored the wishes of Sun, and decided to make their own rugs, and they became so good, everyone stopped visiting Sun, and instead bought rugs from them, saying, “Not even Sun can make rugs as wonderful as these!”

Because no one came to visit Sun anymore, he went to the people and asked them, “Have you been making rugs for yourselves?”

The people told Sun that they no longer needed his rugs, and he really shouldn’t bother making them anymore because the sister’s rugs were much better, and Perhaps he should go and buy one for himself!

Sun became so angry, he gathered up all his rugs, and went to live in the sky. The world became cold and dark, and everyone was close to freezing to death, except for one small boy, who refused to buy a rug, and so Sun allowed him to keep the rug he gave him, which kept the boy warm throughout the endless night.

All the people threw their rugs in a huge pile outside the sister’s hut, demanding that they come out. The sisters told the people that they would climb up on the mountain of rugs and visit Sun, and ask him if he would return his rugs back to the people. It took the sisters many days to reach the sky, and when they finally made it to the top of the mountain, they were unable to reach the door to sun’s hut, and so they called out, “Sun, throw down one more rug, so we can reach your door!” (although they planned to keep the rug for themselves, and let the people freeze to death). Suddenly Sun opened his door and tossed such a huge rug down upon the sisters, they cried out, and clinging together, they jumped off the mountain and were transformed into the moon. The giant rug fell down upon the earth, and became daylight for all the people.

The people were not satisfied, however, and one night, they attempted to steal the last remaining rug of the sun, and chased the boy up the mountain to kill him. The boy placed his rug upon the mountain peak, and was able to make it safely through sun’s door. Sun was pleased that the boy had come to him for help, and looked down angrily upon the people, who became so terrified they jumped into the sky and became stars.

Sun taught the boy the art of weaving, and by the time he reached manhood, he truly made rugs like those of Sun himself. Sun called the boy Butu, and gave him his daughter, the sun maiden Otu, as his wife. Sun sat them upon Butu’s old rug, and returned them back down to the world below. Just as they were above the island of Mofia they jumped, and the last rug of the Sun sank into the ocean.

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